Normal service will be resumed on the blog tomorrow. Or as normal as this blog will ever be. My last question this weekend is for everyone; believers and non believers alike. I’ve been struggling to read my Bible of late yet I like to think I have a fairly good knowledge of it. From a very early age I attended Sunday School and was taught the stories of the Old and New Testaments. In Northern Ireland most kids from my background go through this process. Meaning that when they grow up most people, even if they haven’t a spiritual bone in their body, will know their Bible stories.

Fionnuala’s is the story of Pentecost, where the Holy Spirit descended on The Apostles, while Rebecca’s is Daniel in the Lion’s Den. Adam had to rack his brains for a bit but eventually plumped for the adulterous woman who Jesus saved from being stoned. Interesting choice for a fifteen year old boy. Hannah chose the story of the disabled man who Jesus healed after his friends lowered him through a hole in the roof. I didn’t ask Charlie because he’s a dog. And dogs can’t talk. I tend to focus more on characters than stories but I’ve always been drawn to the stories of David and his Mighty Men. They kicked serious backside.

I’m slowly coming round to Bible study and prayer again. I love to study the history, culture and politics of the period. I’m also interested in other faiths. Some are interesting while others I view with concern and trepidation. Where I struggle is with man made religion and misinterpretation of the ancient truths which he has taken and distorted to meet his own needs. I don’t have a problem with Jesus who taught love, faith and hope. My problem is with so many of his followers and the churches who fail to practice what he preached. I’m a work in progress. I guess we all are.

What’s your favourite Bible story and why?

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Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 15 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca.
We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised.
But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all.
We hope you enjoy the blog.
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70 thoughts on “What’s Your Favourite Bible Story?”

The story of Job. He was put through every bad thing known to man, yet his love never wavered. He still loved God. He still honored God. It always remain me that nothing could be as worst in life, then what Job had experience. The story of Jesus is another great story. He died for us, all humanity.

Yeah I’ve been trying to read Job. Everyone talks about the patience of Job but he seems very angry and despondent for much of the book. Or maybe that’s just my interpretation and I’m missing the point?

Yes he was, but his faith through it all never let Go of God! When tragedy strikes, our thoughts will first appear negative, but the spirit will forever cling to faith. Its an example of how flesh is weak, but the spirit never gives up.

I do think you’re slightly off point with your study of Job. Yes, he was angry and despondent, he had lost everything, he was in constant pain, his wife is encouraging him to die already and his friend are telling him this is shows he must have done something bad because things like this don’t happen to good people. But, the one thing he didn’t do is turn on God. He did not curse God’s name. Instead, he pleaded to God for deliverance, for help. Everyone told him to give up on God, that God had forgotten him but Job didn’t do that. He pleaded for God to hurry but, at the same time, he never gave up his belief in God, never cursed, never turned away from him. I always saw it as a lesson that we don’t have to smile and be thrilled when we’re hurting. Just because we are in agony and crying doesn’t mean we don’t have faith. God isn’t going to be mad just because we cry out that it hurts and that we don’t understand why we are hurting. But, the one thing we should never give up is our belief that God is in control, that our pain can be made to serve His purpose and He will deliver us, maybe not in the way we expect, but He will because even in our darkest moments of agony when all we can see is our loss and our pain, God is there, He hasn’t forsaken us and, if we do not forsake Him, He will bring us through.

Pain and loss is when too many people lose their faith because they don’t want to believe that a loving God will ever let us feel pain. They don’t understand and so they turn away. Or they feel guilty because they do cry out, because they’re told, of you’re not smiling then you don’t have enough faith, look at when Paul was in jail and singing. Job shows us, we don’t have to sing and rejoice when we’re in pain, we just have to hold on to our faith and be patient that God will bring that pain to an end when the time is right and in the way best for His plan.

I agree with your interpretations. Paul and Silas certainly weren’t smiling when they were singing – they had just been scourged – and their songs of praise were probably the Psalms, which would have been a continuation of their prayers. Their pain led to the miracle of conversion for the jailer and his household.

Suffering is not necessarily a chastisement, and although it can be a terrible trial for the afflicted, it may actually be someone else’s test: will that person pay attention and rise to God’s challenge to provide succor, and to repent and come unto Christ?

OT: Judith. All of my novels have strong female leads. Judith kicks ass.
NT: Y’shua making the whip and beating the crap out of the moneychangers in the Temple. I love to throw that in the face of he “surrender to extinction” crowd of so-called followers of the Way.

The story of Hosea, God told him to marry the prostitute Gomer and to have children with her. Gomer leaves Hosea and Hosea buys his wife back/still loves her. The same way that God remains faithful to each and every one of us also paying the price for us with the blood that was shed thru Jesus Christ.
God bless you and your family

The story of Joseph and his brothers shows the capacity to change, grow, and do the right thing even when we as bible readers would like to see Joseph get his revenge. Yet we see the compassion and the wisdom gained through his journey and quite frankly Hell he went through. To see how God used all of Joseph’s experience for good give us hope.

One of mine is Job. The devil took everything from him, except for his faith and God doubly blessed him! It isn’t a conquering story as in David and Goliath or Daniel and the Den in the sense that Job overcomes his obstacles right away. I love those other stories too, but what I love about Job’s story is life is very difficult but God does provide. Sometimes you just have to be patient and trust. 🙂

I have a few favorite Chapters of the Bible, but I must say my favorite was Jesus stopping the stones aimed at that poor prostitute. It showed Jesus’ character, which was one of forgiveness and extreme compassion. It also taught us about judging one another, which I suppose we all struggle with, but I try hard not to judge others. The problem begins with hypocrisy, just as you’ve said. They cause horrible harm to nonbelievers, who feel as if they are too weird, or unlovable to even join a church. It infuriates me when “righteous” people show themselves to be arrogant, cruel and judgmental. Great blog. 🙂

My favorite testimony out of the Bible is the woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. “If I can only touch the hem of his garment,” she said. I love how Jesus told his disciples that he felt power go out from him.

In the OT I like the story in Genesis 18 where Abraham negotiates with God. My favorite two Jesus stories are, 1.) the woman at the well (John 4), and 2.) Jesus and the Syro-Phoenician woman. She gently – but firmly – offers Jesus a correction in his perspective.

I love the story of David, the guy made some epic mistakes, was a warrior who was being hunted down by king Saul, and as a child had to endure being the younger brother. But despite that, he defeated the giant, succeeded in becoming king, and found favor with God. But what I love most about him is that he was a true worshipper. He valued Gods presence, so much so that he rescued the Ark of the Covenant and danced for joy and praise. He wrote the psalms and was known for his musical talent.

One of my favorite stories is Cain and Abel. I used to think it was a simple story of murder and didn’t really apply to every day life…and then I started teaching a Bible class for little children. I started at the beginning and, when I came to Cain and Abel, I found it much more complex than just about the first murderer and found several lessons I. It that apply to every day life even for children and about God’s mercy.

As a girl, I admired Ester’s courage. God saw her through some frightening times and used her voice to save her people. Otherwise now that I’m grown… the conversion of Saul into Paul on the road to Damascus. For in his testimony, I’m reminded how God can change lives.

Joseph’s life story tops my list. So patient, so much faith and integrity in the face of temptation and adversity. And he was so free in expressing his emotions! I look forward to talking with him in heaven.

I like the story of when Jesus fed the 5,000. He took a measly meal for one and turned it into a meal for the thousands. The little boy who supplied the fish and loaves of bread had great faith!
I also really enjoy the story of Ruth! She was so loyal.

After Jesus had fed the 5000, and he sent the disciples away on the boat while He went up to the mountain top to pray. And as he was walking out on the water and the disciples got scared, he told Peter to come out onto the water too. While Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he was able to walk in the water, but is soon as he looked away he started to sink. It reminds me to keep my eyes on Jesus not on the mass all around me because I can get through any storm with my eyes on Him.

I do like the story of Job, and there are so many good stories within the Bible that it is difficult to choose one favourite. I think my favourite changes depending on what is going on in my life at the time. For that reason, I could easily pick Job, but I’m going to go with Elijah on Mount Carmel and what happened after. Elijah witnessed a powerful victory over the followers of Baal, but then he was afraid, fled and hid. He despaired and wanted to die. From the mountaintop high to a tremendous low. I like the realness in the situation, because we’ve all been there. One minute we’re on top of the world, and then we’re down in the depths of despair. We feel abandoned and alone. But God is still there and still cares for us, hears us and speaks to us.

My favorite Bible story is about the father, though it could have been the mother, who brings his child before Jesus. The child needs healing from that which possesses him, which throws him into fire and causes other harm. Jesus says to the parent (paraphrasing), Anything is possible, if you believe. The parent cries, “I believe. Help my unbelief!” And Jesus heals the child. It’s a story that for me affirms doubt as an honest part of us. Although we might be (mostly) faithful, doubt will be something with which we always have to deal. On this side of heaven, anyway. Thanks for reading from my blog.

My favorite is the story of Jesus and Zacheus! That guy was so short, and I can only imagine how excited he must have been as a tax collector when he climbed that tree, and Jesus told him that they were coming to his house to eat! Classic! 🙂

I have to say both Job & Moses are my current favourites.
The story of Job, particularly the first half where you really see him in all of his humanity; the anger, the grief, the faith etc… This really helped me through my last depressive episodes.

The story of Moses I just love how his whole life is painted out. The miracles. The lessons throughout. It’s amazing

One of my favorite stories is when John the Baptist was in prison and, of course, started having serious doubts about whether or not he’d completely thrown his life away. So he sent some of his followers to ask Jesus if he really was “the guy” or if John hadn’t royally messed up. And without a word of rebuke, Jesus simply told John’s followers all that he had done, and that was enough. Jesus was big enough to take John’s question seriously and actually answer it. Then, once John’s followers were gone, Jesus went on to tell the crowds that John was the greatest prophet born up to that point. Not too long after that, John got his head cut off. He never did get out of prison. I think I like that story so much because it feels like real life to me. Jesus didn’t free the greatest prophet that had ever lived, and he didn’t reattach his head to his shoulders after Herod had it cut off. Yet I have the feeling John died with utter faith in his Messiah, and that’s more valuable than life itself.

Growing up, religion was something we debated, not studied or practiced. Now, in my 30’s, I am learning about the Bible. Our church has some really awesome people that are walking me through it slowly and helping me to understand and learn. So far, I do not have a favorite story, but I am learning.

I can’t say it’s my favorite, but for a children’s service I recently had to prepare the story of Mephibosheth. And I just loved it, and the courage David showed. I have a post about it coming up, so stay tuned for that. But I really liked that story.
If I really had to pick an all time favorite story though, I would pick Esther. I am a romantic at heart, and the courage and faith that story shows has always resonated with me.

Ok great! I’ll basically be sending out sample chapters from September onwards. I can e-mail them to you or send you hard copies along with a list of questions which I would like you to consider. I can’t pay you unfortunately that’s the only thing.